These easy cold lunch ideas either don’t require any cooking, or are great as prep-ahead lunch leftovers for when you don’t have much time to cook!
They can all be enjoyed cold, so they’re perfect for taking on the go, to school, or to the office.
Easy Cold Lunch Recipes
From sandwiches to salads to pasta and beyond, these portable lunches are all easy to make and totally delicious. Without further ado, here’s the list!
Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
These shredded chicken lettuce wraps come together super fast, especially if you use leftover/rotisserie chicken! Plus, the peanut sauce is easy to whip up (and totally delectable).
We are huge fans of lettuce wraps in this house! Just consider adding some carbs to the mix to make them more of a filling meal (I usually have some crackers or toast on the side, or you can add a grain into the wraps themselves, like rice)!
Greek Orzo Salad with Shrimp & Feta
Use pre-cooked shrimp, and this salad comes together in just minutes.
I love the pillowy orzo, Greek flavors, and feta here – definitely a lunch to look forward to!
Grain salads are one of my favorite easy lunches, and this one is no exception!
Using salsa as the dressing adds a ton of flavor. And if you use leftover brown rice (or any cooked grain you have on hand), this is easily a no-cook meal!
Healthy Tuna Salad with Avocado
Here’s a classic with a lighter spin: tuna salad made with avocado (no mayo!).
It’s super flavorful and delish as a sandwich, a wrap, with crackers, or even as a snack with crunchy veggies.
You can never go wrong with a flavorful pasta salad, and this is one of our favorite go-tos. The recipe makes a lot so we usually enjoy it for dinner and then enjoy the leftovers for lunches!
Toss together your favorite veggies, leftover pasta, mozzarella cheese, and a creamy Italian dressing (recipe included), and you’ve got yourself a crave-worthy meal.
Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Feta
This salad brings together tasty Mediterranean flavors for a perfect, easy-prep lunch!
The quinoa and chickpeas add protein/staying power, the feta adds a rich saltiness, and the veggies add even more deliciousness. Mediterranean grain bowls are my absolute favorite.
Healthy Egg Salad with Avocado
Another classic lunch option, but with a twist!
This egg salad uses fresh herbs and creamy avocado instead of mayo for a lighter – but even tastier – version.
Enjoy in a sandwich, wrap, with crackers, crunchy veggies, on its own… any way you like!
Mediterranean Chicken Pita Pockets
Have leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken on hand?
Stuff some pita pockets with veggies (like spinach, cucumber, and tomato), chicken, cheese, and hummus for a delightful, portable lunch.
Veggie Pesto Pasta with Broccoli
This pesto pasta is another yummy dinner that also makes a great lunch leftover!
Pack it up and enjoy it cold, just like any pasta salad. It’s packed with flavor and super nutritious!
This is one of my all-time favorite portable lunches! It’s essentially a taco salad, but with quinoa for extra staying power. And it only takes a few minutes to throw together!
Even better is the amounts of everything are flexible – it’s a sort of “no recipe” recipe.
Fall Harvest Salad with Watermelon
This salad packs all the best things about fall into one dish!
Refreshing watermelon, baby kale, farro, and feta cheese are tossed in an amazing apple cider dijon dressing. And don’t forget the added crunch from the crispy roasted chickpeas and chopped pecans!
For another delicious variation, check out this post: Harvest Bowls with Sweet Potato.
Juicy apples, creamy white beans, crunchy cabbage, and apple cider vinaigrette… what more could you ask for?!
Feel free to toss in some extra protein, like chicken, for even more staying power – and serve it with a side of toast or crackers for some carbs!
Sesame Shrimp and Watermelon Salad
This salad might be on the summery side, but who says it can’t be enjoyed year round? It’s crisp, crunchy, and refreshing, with a drool-worthy sesame dressing and juicy shrimp.
And of course, I can’t forget sandwiches!
Here are some of my favorite mix and match sandwich recipes to get you inspired (including the chicken banh mi sandwich pictured below). 🙂
I hope this list gives you some inspiration for cold lunch ideas, whether you’re enjoying them at home or on the go!
Let me know your favorite cold/portable lunch in the comments below!
